April Ford understands that paganism is a minority faith generally misunderstood in the mainstream, but it still stung when Fox News commentators mocked believers with stereotypes and jokes.

“When you say derogatory things about a religious group, you have taken our sacred traditions and spat on us,” she said. “It’s very hurtful.”

Ford practices Wicca, a form of paganism, in the Columbus area. She is among about 40,000 people who have signed petitions on causes.com and change.org asking for an apology for comments made Sunday during a Fox & Friends Weekend report about the University of Missouri adding pagan and Wiccan holidays to its “Guide to Religions.”

Paganism, also called neo-paganism, is a group of ancient religions that do not acknowledge the God of Judaism, Christianity or Islam. They are generally polytheistic and revere the earth and nature. Wiccans tend to worship goddesses and practice natural magic. Adherents.com estimates about 1 million neo-pagans worldwide.

Ford said she still wants the network to issue an apology and correction. Yesterday, Bill Shine, executive vice president of programming for Fox News, said in a statement that the network is taking the matter seriously and will address it on Fox & Friends Weekend on Saturday.

The University of Missouri guide lists eight main pagan/Wiccan holidays. Coming up is Ostara, celebrated March 20 to 22, when celebrants often light fires to welcome spring and color eggs to honor fertility.

Along with holidays, Ford said, Wiccans celebrate rites of passage, including the blessing of children, weddings, funerals and “croning” for old women. She said she has been studying five years to become a high priestess of Wicca. She uses the pagan name Saoirse — meaning “freedom” in Gaelic — and coordinates “A Gathering of Paths” pagan discussion group.

In Columbus, she said, paganism is “like a rainbow” – as varied as the Christian community, with groups worshiping different pre-Christian gods.